A Practical Science Project?

Over at the New York Review of Books, physicist Steven Weinberg laments the decline in government funding for “big science,” especially noting that the proposed James Webb telescope, a replacement for the aging Hubble telescope, is withering for lack of funding from Congress. Well, here’s an idea to get those “anti-science” Republicans to cough up the dough: combine the two telescopes into one! Call it the “Webb Hubble telescope,” after Bill Clinton’s famous crony, and have the media use it to spot Democratic scandals like “Fast and Furious” that reporters somehow otherwise can’t seem to find right under their nose.

And yes, you’re right–it is a little early in the afternoon to be drinking. Actually, Weinberg’s article is pretty good, though it shows how government-sponsored science will always fall prey to pork barrel politics.